Claim for Transportation of Household Goods

A Department of Energy (DOE) employee requested reconsideration of a decision which established his liability for excess costs incurred in the transportation of his household goods in connection with his official change of station. Initially, the employee protested against a DOE finding of liability, stating that the computation failed to subtract transportation charges which would have been incurred by the Government irrespective of the actual weight of the shipment. The protest was denied. On appeal, the employee renewed his initial contention and submitted documentation challenging the validity of the weight certificate used to establish the weight of his household goods shipment. He contended that GAO incorrectly read the Federal Travel Regulations used to compute his excess weight charges and, thus, incorrectly computed the excess charges. GAO held that, since there was no way to discern which charges were applicable to the authorized weight and which charges were on account of the excess weight, the Federal Travel Regulations provided an equitable estimation of the total charges. GAO did concur with the employee's analysis that the discrepancy created by using an inaccurate scale served to invalidate the weight certificate and placed its accuracy in reasonable doubt. However, GAO did not agree with the contention that he be relieved of liability because Federal Travel Regulations provide for an alternate computation method to determine the correct weight when an error has been committed. GAO found that, under this method, the total weight of the employee's household goods would have been increased, and applicable excess weight charges would have increased commensurately. However, GAO found no reason to extend the employee's liability.